LBGarden

这里有个别字，不过不是我写错了，而是一百多年前的清末科举考官。在中国实行了一千三百年之久的科举考试到了清朝末年已经千疮百孔病入膏肓。孔乙己这个名字想必大家都不陌生，孔乙己便是不计其数科举受害人的缩影。到了清末出于时代压力，清末王朝对科举制度进行了匆忙的改革。一次为了迎合考中外政治历史的旨意，考官出题时把法国的拿破仑和同是以失败告终一代枭雄西楚霸王项羽进行比较，于是出了考题《项羽拿破轮论》。不过当时把拿破仑音译成了拿破轮，于是有了下面的考场文章：

【夫项羽，拔山盖世之雄，已有破轮而不能拿哉？使破轮自修其政，又焉能为项羽所拿者？拿全轮而不胜，而况于拿破轮也哉？】

读《山居笔记》的《十万进士》到此，我忍不住捧腹大笑。余老师真是用功，为了写文章想必翻阅了无数的资料，连这么一份陈年试卷也找出来了。

笑之余更觉汗颜，到了20世纪初夜郎自大的清朝还思想封闭，让读书人死读四书五经，考死板的八股文。而欧洲已经在19世纪末完成了工业革命，不仅工业生产技术先进，各项自然科学也突飞猛进。

《项羽拿破轮论》是读书人的一面警钟，时时提醒我们一山还比一山高，放眼看世界，不断进步。

今年的香港书展于7月23号到29号期间在香港会议展览中心举行。我们周五下了班去。也许是周末，人龙从湾仔地铁站出口就开始排起，缓慢的向前蠕动。地铁站出口到会展中心500来米走了半个多小时。七月天气潮湿炎热，裹在人墙里度秒如年。

人群里男女老少、提着文件包的上班族、背着背包的游客尽有应有。看来香港人还是挺喜欢看书的。我一个当地同事度假时一般都去台湾，问她为什么老是旧地重游。她说台湾特别多书店，她和她先生都很喜欢看书，度假就是在书店看书。很特别的度假方式。

我就不是爱看书人。确切地说是没有耐心看对我而言内容不够精彩的书，而能吸引我的书我会通宵达旦的看，像金庸的武侠小说，《哈里波特》，《达芬奇密码》等。也就是故事性书籍我看，知识性书籍我就没耐心看了。不管怎么说一年一度的大型书展还是不容错过。

终于到达会展中心了，买完票后不知又走了几个电梯、过道才到达书籍展览厅。总共有四大展厅，我们去的是展厅2。我们还是第一次进入香港会展中心，展厅可以用广阔两字形容，但还是装满了人。我的目标是大陆出版社和台湾出版社，因为平时较难买到他们的书。而且大陆出版社的人民币书价以一比一接受港币。

书的选择实在是太多了，虽然我不是爱看书人，但好多书想买回家（买回来后不知会不会看）。我和先生各逛各的，约好一个小时后会面。一个小时我只逛完两三家大陆出版社，买了6本书。时间紧，人又拥挤，根本没办法慢慢找事先想买的几本书。

亲临这样的盛会、体验群体读书氛围，很有意义的经历，相信这次的书展会卷起一段时间的读书潮。不过真要有的放矢的买书，最好还是平时多留意书评，选好喜欢的书，上指定的书店买，既节约时间，又避免拥挤。

Recently my mother in law shared some very beautiful slides with Grammy award-winning comedian George Carlin's famous tribute to his late wife Brenda Carlin(passed away on May 11,1997) on the background of breathtaking landscapes.

While appreciating the eloquent and incisive descprition of our modern life, and the beautiful pictures, I found out on internet that the piece was not written by George Carlin who denied authorship on his website. While, it was wrriten by Dr. Moorehead in 1990, and published in his book "Words Aptly Spoken" in 1995. Dr. Moorehead is Minister, author, and former pastor of Overlake Christian Church in Redmon, Washingon.(source:TruthOrFiction)

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

来香港近两个月，因为还未上班认识的当地人少，对当地的实事也不特别关注，香港对我来说还是陌生的异乡。

前不久去参观了香港历史博物馆，对香港的历史有了第一次亲密接触。可是对现时的香港还是只有异乡人的认知，还没感触到香港人的政治、文化、生活理念。

今天经过九龙塘一家书店，不经思索走了进去。老实承认我是个不爱看书的人。来到社会文化专柜，随便浏览。题目“我是历史见证人”引起了我的注意，翻开看序言。原来为回顾和检阅香港回归十年，《明报月刊》邀请了当年参与重大决策、见证回归的中、英官员和香港各界人士撰文谈个人感受。

回归之前香港经历了移民漕的恐慌期、中英争拗、回归的喜悦和彷徨，港回归十年经历了经济危机、政治争端、SARS、经济复苏，这段特殊的历史给现在的香港留下了特别的历史烙印，而且继续影响着香港人。我想见证了这段历史的人能引导我认识香港、了解香港。

    “您看这里的草长得不好，是因为您把这里的草和别处的草互相比较的缘故。看来，我们常常是看别人的草地，希望别人的草地就是我们自己的，却很少去整治自己的草地！”

    园丁的这席话让100多年前费城的康惠尔牧师恍然明白到为什么自己为筹建大学而辛苦奔波5年却仅仅连总费用的百万分之一都未能筹募到。此后，他积极探求人生哲理，到处给人们演讲“钻石宝藏”的故事：

   有个农夫听说自己的土地埋有钻石，所以他开始在自己的土地上挖宝，但他挖了两三年都没有挖到。于是，他卖了自己的土地，四处寻找可以挖出钻石的地方。而买下农夫土地的人坚持辛勤耕耘反倒挖到了“钻石宝藏”。

  康惠尔向人们说：“财富和成功不是仅评奔走四方发现的，他属于在自己的土地上不断挖掘的人，它属于相信自己有能力‘整理自己的草地’的人！

  7年后康惠尔牧师终于成功筹建了一所大学，就是闻名于世的费城大学。

  昨晚看了这个故事觉得很是自己的写照，我好像都是在羡慕别人的美丽草地，不知道如果我细心整理自己的草地，那么可能羡慕的人是别人。于是马上决定把这句话高悬在自己的Blog上，当是提醒和鼓励。